BajaNomad - certified mulege mechanic

certified mulege mechanic

garth - 5-6-2008 at 12:44 PM

my mexican 22 y.o. nephew, rolando camacho, has diplomas in general auto maintenance and a specialty in fuel injection. he worked for the ford dealer in la paz for a year but now lives full time in mulege. he is honest, hard working and drug free. little english but i can translate. i am usually at 153 0102 around 2 p.m. local and live on my sailboat at the lighthouse here in mulege... he charges 150 pesos per hour and worth every centavo.

805gregg - 5-6-2008 at 01:22 PM

How about diesel?

Sharksbaja - 5-6-2008 at 01:27 PM

Hey that's great news! Welcome to Nomads Garth.
Does Rolando have access to a shop in Mulege?

Cypress - 5-6-2008 at 02:47 PM

garth, Welcome to the forum! Wish your cousin luck, there're at least 3 local mechanics in Mulege.

Now that the winter crowd from north of the border have migrated north the pool of customers will be much smaller.

DENNIS - 5-6-2008 at 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by garth
he charges 150 pesos per hour

I'm just curious, is that what an average mechanic in Mulege is charging per hour, 14 dollars+- ?

mulegemichael - 5-6-2008 at 03:42 PM

i've paid, on a few occasions, less than ten bucks an hour for good service in mulege so $15 per is waaaaayyyy too much, in my opinion....but...sometimes you get what ya pay fer...

capt. mike - 5-6-2008 at 04:30 PM

jeeezus - what does Oscar and the elec guy Marcos by equipales get? not that much i recall.
are times a changing? what does Sid get too?
my nissan beater has had a lot of very fine work done there.
seems i never paid that much an hour.
but hey when you need a tech..........sometimes you can't be choosy.

DENNIS - 5-6-2008 at 04:57 PM

I just thought that for a mechanic being introduced to a new clientel, he's really proud of himself. I wonder what he'll charge after he gains a good reputation.

Hook - 5-6-2008 at 10:06 PM

So, these mechanics already in Mulege have received standardized training and have hands on experience at a dealership for a year? :?:

15.00/hour sounds like a bargain for a wrench (NOT A WENCH, DAMMIT) with that kind of training, even in Mexico.

DENNIS - 5-7-2008 at 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hook

15.00/hour sounds like a bargain for a wrench

That's the old meaningless USA / MEX comparison, Hook. I've been to doctors in Baja who don't get much more than 15 bucks per hour. I know times here are changing rapidly but not so a mechanic gets that much. If the gap has closed to this point, I'll take my mechanical needs back north across the border where I at least have the protection of small claims court.

Hook - 5-7-2008 at 12:08 PM

All I know is paying about 30.00 to have a fan clutch or radiator or water pump or bypass heater hose or maybe a T-stat or a PS pump replaced in 90 degree heat is well worth it to me.

Now, ask me how some restaurants charge what they do and I'll complain. :wow:

capt. mike - 5-7-2008 at 12:52 PM

my buddy Augustine the yard man at the serenidad is paid 80 pesos

a day and you should see the things he can fix on a car. :cool:

mexico blows my mind.

garth - 5-7-2008 at 12:58 PM

i'm sorry that some of you think 15 per hour expensive. the good mechanics in san carlos sonora are charging 35 us dollars an hour. i'm sure you can find less expensive mechanics but they will not have the training that rolando does. most "mechanics" are simply parts replacers with no diagnostic knowledge. rolando is not experienced with diesels. he has a shop near his home in el rebaje. my mexican drf. in guaymas sonora gets 350 pesos for a 20 minute consultation from everyone. the drs catering to the u.s. clientelle are charging 60 us dollars per visit. rolando is fast, honest and good at what he does. he does not charge for new parts after repainting the old ones, etc. etc.

Hook - 5-7-2008 at 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by garth
he does not charge for new parts after repainting the old ones, etc. etc.

That settles it. I'm etching any part I deem in need of replacing.

DENNIS - 5-7-2008 at 01:41 PM

The hourly price just seems high for a shadetree mechanic in Mulege. I guess Rolando not only got wrench training from the Ford dealer, he got a course in dealer pricing as well.
I don't know....I guess the whole world has passed me by.

Cypress - 5-7-2008 at 03:21 PM

$15US doesn't buy much in Mulege.

tripledigitken - 5-7-2008 at 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cypress
$15US doesn't buy much in Mulege.

It will still get you a GREAT Sonoran Ribeye Steak at Equipales! :yes:

Ken

Paladin - 5-7-2008 at 08:09 PM

$15 per hour would be worth every dime if I had a problem and I KNEW he would fix it right.

Now for another point of view

My 26 year old son spent 14 months going to UTI in Rancho Cucamango (So Cal) Honor Graduate in Auto Mechanics. Now has 6 years experience
Also just RENEWED his ASE Master Mechanic certification. He also has the ASE Enhanced/Avanced Engine Performance Cert and the UnderCar Certification And he is also a Licensed Smog Technician.....and he has tools and computer stuff up the yeng yang...over $50,000 in stuff

When he got the Master Tech and the Smog License he was one of the youngest in State to do it.

We are in Fresno which has high unemployment...low ages etc etc
His last job was at $15 per hour working for a jerk

Conclusion????

How would I know, I sell insurance :lol:

UnoMas - 5-7-2008 at 08:34 PM

Give the kid a chance before counting him out. He might be the only one that can keep you moving, and $14.00us per hour ...............Cheap!

losfrailes - 5-7-2008 at 08:59 PM

Another thing to consider is the clientele base in Mulege vs that in San Carlos.

Lots of darn good mechanics in Baja that are not earning that vaunted $15/hr, and not just replacement types, but ones that know what they are doing.

garth - 5-8-2008 at 07:48 AM

if someone is not completely satisfied with the work and or the final price i would negotiate. i suggest the fresno mnechanic with all the diplomas go work for someone else or start his own shop. i bet the shop charges at least 75 per hour for his time.

comitan - 5-8-2008 at 09:24 AM

I think this mechanic is a good example of the 2 tiered pricing in Mexico I'm sure this mechanic is not charging the mexicans these prices, because they could not afford them and he has to have mexican customers to stay in business.

Paladin - 5-8-2008 at 10:08 AM

Actually the independent shops my son has worked for charge closer to $95 for his time, plus 40 to 50% markups on parts.
My son doesn't want to work for a dealership because you learn one car only and your work is more like an assembly line "monkey" so to speak.
Maybe put another way I have no intention of letting a former Ford Dealership mechanic work on my Chevy, Honda and ForeRunner.
Actually my son is now taking interviews to work for the Bureau of Automotive Repair which is the consumer inforcement agency for auto repairs and smog enforcement.
I think he will get on with them and based on the crooks he has worked for, and told to shove it, he should do fine.

By the way, I fully expect two tier pricing in Baja and I have no problem with it. All customers are not created equal.